Analysis
Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025
By Chika Mathias Nwigwe, Esq.

His Excellency, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the Executive Governor of Anambra State on the 17th day of January, 2025 signed the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025 which repealed the Anambra State Vigilante Law, 2014.
For the benefits of those living or doing business in Anambra State & the reading public, I will in summary highlights the important provisions of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025.
1. The law created a Security outfit for Anambra State known as Agunechemba and repealed the Anambra State Vigilante Law, 2014. See Sections 3 & 39 of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025.
2. Agunechemba shall have units in Towns, Communities, Local Government Areas, Markets & other public places in Anambra State. See section 3 (2) of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025.
3. The functions and powers of Agunechemba are like that of the Nigerian Police. If they suspect your movement, they can arrest you & hand you over to the Police. If they pursue you and you enter any building they have the power to search the building. They have the power to form special forces to tackle violent crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, consumption of illicit drugs, cultism, robbery. See sections 4 and 5 of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025.
4. If you victimize, assault, intimidate or obstruct any member of Agunechemba in performance of his duties you will be fined six million Naira or spend six months in prison custody or both upon conviction. See section 33 of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025.
5. You can only sue Agunechemba or member(s) in the High Court of Anambra State after a pre-action notice of one month. A member of Agunechemba is indemnified in damages for an act done or omitted to be done in GOOD FAITH in the performance of his duties. See sections 36 (2) and 34 of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025.
6. Presidents of Town Unions recognized by the Anambra State Government shall within the first week of every month make monthly security report to the Local Government Mayor and the Ministry of Homeland Security or any other person designated for that purpose by the Governor. The Security Report must disclose crimes and suspicions, arrests made, particulars of the suspect(s): name, address, phone number, whereabouts & any other necessary particulars & the level of involvement (directly or indirectly). Particulars of NEW & unknown person that resides in the Community. Particulars of locations (forest or not) within the Community used or occupied by kidnappers or bandits as dwelling place or for commission of crime. Particulars of people who brandishes wealth or engages in lavish and luxurious live or spending without verifiable means of livelihood. And finally, their opinion or assessment of security condition or situation in their Community. See section 13 (1) (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) & (g) of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025.
7. If a town union president did not comply with paragraph 6 above, his recognition as town union president of Anambra State will be withdrawn. And if the recognition is withdrawn & the town union President whose recognition is withdrawn parade himself as one, he will be fined five million or spend 2 years in the prison or both upon conviction. See section 13 (2) & (3) of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025.
8. Landlords and property owners, proprietors of hotel, commercial guest house, inn, motel, shortlet apartments, hostels, lodges etc in Anambra State shall before letting out their property, demand and obtain from proposed tenant a copy of the VALID MEAN OF IDENTIFICATION of TENANT(S) or GUESTS with phone number, details of occupation & place of work if applicable. Estate leaders within the community shall collect the above information and submit to the President General of the Community who shall transmit same to the mayor of the Local Government Area or any appropriate authority. The proprietor of commercial dwelling places shall in addition install a surveillance camera to record the checking in of guests & other activities taking place within the premises and surroundings and submit the data recorded by the camera to the appropriate authority. See section 14 (1) (a) & (b), (3) and (4) of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025
9. Any person who let’s out his property without obtaining the required information or fails to submit it as required in paragraph 8 above commit an offence and liable on convictions for a term of one year with an option of five million Naira or both. Those in the hospitality industry who contravenes paragraph 8 above commits an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of six months with an option of fine of one million Naira or both. In addition the Commissioner in charge of hospitality industry may withdraw the licence or shutdown the operation of such commercial dwelling place. See section 14 (2), (5) and (6) of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025
10. Any person being an owner of any LAND whether or not in the forest or owner of any building or a person in control of such land or building, who allow such land or building to be occupied as a CAMP or settlement or used for purposes of perpetrating or aiding KIDNAPPING, detention of kidnapped victims, demanding or collection of ransoms in relation to kidnapping or any other crime in furtherance of kidnapping or any form of BANDITRY. Any person (except recognized security agencies) who lives or harbours people on any land in the forest in Anambra State save for the purposes of farming and in furtherance of any lawful business. Any person being the owner of any land in a forest or a person in control of any such land who ALLOWS any person not being a member of any recognized security agencies to LIVE or camp in such forest save for purposes of farming or in furtherance of any lawful business. Any person being the owner of any property or person in control of any such property who is or becomes aware that such PROPERTY is used for the commission of any OFFENCE and CONCEALS such fact or fails to REPORT same to the Police or AGUNECHEMBA. Offences under this section shall on conviction be liable for a TERM of 25 YEARS without the OPTION of FINE. In addition, the property (land or building) used for the commission of the offence shall be forfeited to the Anambra State. See section 15 (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025
11. Any property used for the manufacture, sale or use of illicit drugs in the State shall be forfeited to the State Government. See section 16 (2) of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025
12. Any person who under the practice of ”OKEITE” or ”EZENWANYI” or under any other guise administers any substance or CHARM on or for any other person for the purpose of commission of any offence or for the purpose of accumulation of WEALTH by SUPERNATURAL means other than by any known lawful means of livelihood or who PUBLICLY propagates the accumulation of such WEALTH other than by any known lawful means of livelihood. Any person who performs any SACRIFICE or DUMPS on any road or throws in any WATER body in the State, any CHARMS, substance or items of sacrifice in furtherance of the commission of any offence. Any person who MISLEADS the public by purporting to WIELD any SUPERNATURAL POWERS which he is found not to POSSES or who OBTAINS any REWARD from any person in furtherance thereof. Offences under this section shall be liable on conviction for a TERM of 6 YEARS with an OPTION of FINE of twenty million Naira. See section 18 (1), (2) and (3) of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025
13. Any person suspected of misleading the public under paragraph 12 above shall be subjected to proof that he possesses such powers. See section 18 (4) of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025
14. Any person who uses any religious place for the commission or to aid the commission of any crime commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of six years with an option of fine of twenty million or both. See section 19 (1) of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025
15. Any religious place suspected of being used to commit or aid the commission of any crime may be sealed by the order of the Governor pending the conclusion of investigation. Save the Governor or the Court unseal the religious place if the matter is in Court, the religious place shall remain sealed until the determination of the charge. See section 19 (2) and (4) of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025
16. Any person who performs or requires of any person the performance of any rituals involving HUMAN PARTS commits an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 25 years without an option of FINE.
17. THANK YOU
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